Answer: The hair of the private parts, both of men and women, and the hair growing around them, is called pubic hair. Removing it is part of the fitrah. It has several medical benefits. There is no minimum period set for it; the maximum period, however, is forty days. It is not permissible to exceed forty days. Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
وقت لنا فى قص الشارب ، وتقليم الأطفار ، ونتف الإبط ، وحلق العانة ، أن لانترك أكثر من أربعين ليلة
“The Prophet ﷺ set a limit of forty days for trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, plucking the armpit hair and shaving the pubic hair, so that one does not delay beyond this.”
In Fatawa Alamgiri it is written:
ألأفضل أن يقلم أظفاره ويحفي شاربه ويحلق عانته وينقف بدنه بالاغتسال فى كل أسبوع مرة فإن لم يفعل ففي كل خمسة عشر يوما ولا يعذر فى تركه وراء الأربعين . . ولا عذر فيما وراء الأربعين ويستحق الوعيد
“It is best to cut the nails, trim the moustache, shave the pubic hair and bathe once a week. If one cannot do this, then after fifteen days. If one does not do so even up to forty days, his excuse is not accepted; rather, he deserves the threat of punishment.”
Ibn Abidin al-Shami writes:
وكره تركه تحريما ولا عذر فيما وراء الأربعين ويستحق الوعيد
“Not removing the pubic hair even after forty days is makruh tahrimi, and the one who does so deserves the threat of punishment.”
➊ For cleanliness and purity, it is better to also remove the hair around the back private part, although no narration is found about this.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:
ويستحب إماطة الشعر عن القبل والدبر بل هو من الدبر والدبر أولى خوفا من أن يعلق شيء من الغائط فلا يزيله المستنجي إلا بالماء ولا يتمكن من إزالته بالاستجمار
“Removing hair from both the front and back private parts is recommended, and removing it from the back private part is even better, because there is a concern that some faeces may cling to these hairs and, when using stones, it may not be cleaned properly, making the use of water necessary.”
Ibn Abidin al-Shami writes:
العانة الشعر القريب من فرج الرجل والمرأة ومثلها شعر الدبر بل هو أولى بالإزالة لئلا يتعلق به شيء من الخارج عند الإستنجاء بالحجر
“Remove the hair near the front and back private parts; rather, removing the hair of the back private part is even better, so that no faeces remains attached there when using stones.”
➋ An iron instrument or a cream should be used; the Treet company’s hygiene (paki) razor, which is used on dry skin, is better. It is equally beneficial for men and women. It does not take much time. There is no fear of injury, and it is especially easy for diabetic patients or those with large bellies. It also has the benefit that the skin colour is not damaged, whereas creams contain chemicals that stain the skin.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
الفطرة خمس ، أو خمس من الفطرة الختان ، والاستحداد ، ونتف الإبط ، وتقليم الأطفار ، وقص الشارب
“Five things are of the fitrah: circumcision, use of iron (for cleaning the pubic area), plucking the armpit hair, cutting the nails and trimming the moustache.”
➌ If one is unable to remove pubic hair due to illness or an excuse, he is not sinful, because he is not obligated. One should not have his wife, brother or servant remove these hairs, because it causes them embarrassment and distress. The principle is:
الضرر الأشد يزال بالضرر الأخف
“By tolerating a lesser harm, a greater harm is avoided.”
Having someone else remove pubic hair is a great distress, compared with not removing it.
➍ When there is no hope of life remaining, one should remove body hair. As Sayyiduna Khubayb bin Adi (may Allah be pleased with him) did, when he was in the captivity of the disbelievers and was told that he would be crucified:
استعار موسى من بعض بنات الحارث ليستحد بها فأعارته
“So he borrowed a razor from a daughter of Harith bin Amir to shave his pubic hair.”
Some heedless people are not aware of the Shari’ah rulings on hair: they remove hair that is forbidden to remove and deserves a curse, and they do not remove hair that must be removed. Many people die in this state, and afterwards their relatives remove their hair, although this is not appropriate, because he has left the abode of obligation; it benefits him nothing, and it is needless trouble for them.
➎ The hair of the testicles should also be removed.
➏ Some people remove hair from the navel down to the knees; this is mere affectation.
➐ Unnecessary hair should be removed with the left hand; in case of necessity, the right hand may also be used.
➑ After removing pubic hair, bathing is optional and not prescribed.
➒ Among the common people there is also the view that if the Shari’ah limit for removing hair is exceeded, eating and drinking become forbidden; there is no evidence for this. However, if the limit is exceeded, one will certainly be sinful.
➓ In case of necessity, pubic hair may also be cut, while shaving is sunnah.
